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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unlcked, empty outdoor playground.

68 replies

BatShite · 08/04/2020 14:10

Something I am weighing up in my head, not something I am already planning on doing or anything. Not just yet, still mulling over dso all opinions very welcome. Am possibly overthinking it too tbh.

We live opposite a large ish playground. There has been noone into it for at least a week, unless they go in on a nighttime when we can't see I guess.

Given we are allowed exercise aslong as its away from others..would it be unreasonable to let my kids go play in it for an hour or so? If anyone else came, we would leave, but I am not seeing the harm when its like a ghost town?

Would you 'risk' this? Friend told me it was stupid and reckless, but I really do not see how. I would probably even take a bottle of dettol or something and spray anything they are planning on using (as have been getting slightly paranoid recently) but I don't really see how this is a 'rulebreak', I guess besides that all playgrounds are meant to be shut. But its not, and its empty.

Would it be unreasonable to take them there..possibly regularly over the next few weeks, assuming it still stays empty?

OP posts:
Original poster
BatShite · 08/04/2020 14:34

Sorry, I wouldn't, it's one of those things that is likely to quickly set a precedent of other people being less careful and begining to congregate.

Also hadnt considered this side of it either. Makes total sence. Cheers.

OP posts:
Isawamagpie · 08/04/2020 14:35

Absolutely not. Totally reckless, and every other child is in the exact same position as yours. I've had to explain to my DC playground off limits. I've seen police all over our local park today and in our street ordering a family who have been on their front driveway day in, day out back inside, since it turned out they were with others that are not family.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/04/2020 14:35

I wouldn't.

Not because of 'the rules' , some of which are overzealous inventions, but because it's clear that touching surfaces carries risk. Playground equipment also is somewhat more likely than other forms of active play to incur physical risk which is definitely something to be avoided at the moment.

WorraLiberty · 08/04/2020 14:35

The council keep tying the playground equipment with caution tape here and idiot parents keep pulling it down and letting their kids play on it.

Again, I was walking the dog yesterday when I saw a van full of police stop and throw everyone out.

Doyoumind · 08/04/2020 14:37

What makes you so special that the rules don't apply? If you use it, why shouldn't someone else? It's not safe because the virus can be spread via equipment. Why would you even consider it?

TheReluctantCountess · 08/04/2020 14:39

No.

TheReluctantCountess · 08/04/2020 14:39

No - as in don’t do it.

MereDintofPandiculation · 08/04/2020 14:42

You may be safe, but the problem is you are a role model; if you let your kids play, other parents may start letting their kids play, and then it will become unsafe.

Original poster
BatShite · 08/04/2020 14:43

Unanimous answer. Again thanks, and it was a though but of course you are right. Not entirely sure what the need for the 'you think you are special' type posts are though..I certainly don't and we have adhered to all the rules strictly..was just mulling if this would be against them or not, which I can now see clearly it is so obiously not do it. I had not even considered it would maybe encourage oher parents to do it. Brain fart moment tbh, very glad am not a spontaneous person and spend litteraly days sometimgs thinking thigs over!

OP posts:
LoudBatPerson · 08/04/2020 14:46

If everyone thought like you would it be empty? No.

When working out of it would be ok for you to do something (non essential) ask yourself what if everyone did it, would it be a risk then?

If the answer is yes, you don't do it.

Wineislifex · 08/04/2020 14:59

The rules are in place for a reason.
Don’t be one of those selfish idiots who thinks they’re above the rules.

twosoups1972 · 08/04/2020 15:00

YABVU

Your kids right to use an empty playground does not trump that right of others.

ErrolTheDragon · 08/04/2020 15:03

And now follows a few hundred posts by people who haven't bothered to RTFT so don't know the OP has come back to agree she shouldn't.....

Lozz22 · 08/04/2020 15:07

Funnily enough there was a similar post on here the other day about taken her child to the park and disinfecting the surfaces. It got taken down for being a troll thread. Have you just name changed and re posted to rile everyone up!!

MouthBreathingRage · 08/04/2020 15:07

@ErrolTheDragon, shame you cant spend £5 a month on a feature that gets you to lock your thread once you've conceded you're unreasonable Grin.

BluntAndToThePoint80 · 08/04/2020 15:08

I think this would be clearly against the rules. In fact, I have seen in numerous places (tv news, papers, interview with Michael Gove on tv a while ago etc) that play equipment in parks is out of bounds.

Most parks have been padlocked shut and I even saw a feature on the news where a council was having to dismantle and remove equipment from a park as people couldn’t follow clear rules. What a sad waste of time and money as well as the risk to council workers because others cannot follow some simple rules to protect others.

I cannot comprehend the number of people who do not seem to understand the very clear rules that have been set out and are regularly repeated on all channels, websites etc... It has been quite well publicised now. I’m not necessarily having a go at the OP here but the number of these threads that are still appearing is mind boggling and makes me wonder just how stupid our society is.

EmeraldShamrock · 08/04/2020 15:11

Good call OP.
It is tough keeping them occupied. I understand the temptation. Wink

MintyMabel · 08/04/2020 15:16

No, your child is not so special to ignore the closures.

Not all playgrounds are closed. None of the ones around us are closed off in any way.

RuffleCrow · 08/04/2020 15:20

I think it's fine. If it hasn't been played on in weeks the chances of any viruses living on the play equipment are very low. If it's not locked, i would assume it's ok to use. If another family came in, I would leave.

I always think children are more similar to baby chimps than humans in the sense that they 'need' to climb and jump in order to burn up excess energy.

Lookingforwardtomyeastereggs · 08/04/2020 15:27

Yabu.

Lookingforwardtomyeastereggs · 08/04/2020 15:28

Lol sorry op no I didn't rtft

Nicknacky · 08/04/2020 15:34

Kids don’t “need” a play park. They want them, they don’t need them.

And do people really need a play park to be physically blocked off before they understand it’s closed?

I despair with people sometimes.

londonrach · 08/04/2020 15:39

Yabu. My daughter aged three knowns we cant go on the playground. If she sees someone on it it destroys her understanding. Why one rule for you one for everyone else. This virus lives on surfaces for sometime. You be mad to use the playground.

RuffleCrow · 08/04/2020 16:08

A playground isn't closed unless it's... closed. I listen to the daily briefing and not once have any of the cabinet said "avoid deserted playgrounds". Children are allowed to exercise once a day. If a local council has decided playgrounds should remain open so children can exercise there, that's their decision. As long as it's empty, you wash their hands before and after and they're not at the licking everything stage, i really think posters here are exaggerating the risks.

Nicknacky · 08/04/2020 16:10

ruffles It is fucking closed. As an adult you don’t need a padlock for it to be shut.

Just do what you are told, for gods sake.